Milk bottle closure



June 1948- F. M. ALEXANDER 2,442,745

MILK BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed May 17, 1947 w 9 2| 2| Fl6.3 i

FIG. 5

. IN VEN TOR. FRANK M. ALEXANDER ATTORNEY Patented June 8,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in milk bottle closures and has reference more particularly to a readily attachable and detachable closure device that can be quickly applied after the regular pasteboard cap has been removed.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple assembly that can be readily maintained in sanitary condition and which will provide an effective closure for the bottle.

A further object is to produce a device of the type mentioned in which the metal parts can be constructed from wire 50 as to reduce the cost of the material to a minimum.

A further object of this invention is to produce a device for the purpose mentioned that can be readily adjusted to fit bottles of different sizes.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device of such construction that it can be readily moved to cover opening position and retained in that position while the milk is poured from the bottle.

A still further object is to produce a closure member of such construction that it can be readily formed at a minimum cost and which can be quickly applied to and removed from the metal frame.

Another object is to produce an invention of the class described in which the closure member can be readily and quickly adjusted relative to the metal frame so as to permit minor necessary adjustments to be made, due to slight variations in the size and thickness of the bottles.

The above and other objects that may appear as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a milk bottle showing my improved closure in place thereon, a portion of the bottle being broken away to better disclose the construction;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a side elevation looking from left to right in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure assembly; and

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

In the drawing reference numeral ll) designates an ordinary glass milk bottle of an ordinary size. Such bottles are provided near the top with an enlargement H forming the outer surface of the bottle neck and this is provided interiorly with a rabbet l2, all as is usual and well known in con- 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-63) nection with milk bottles of this type; such milk bottles, when they are prepared at the dairy, are provided with a, pasteboard disk that fits into the rabbet I2. The housewife, upon receiving the milk bottle, must, of course, remove the pasteboard disk or closure in order to obtain access to the milk. Such closure disks are diflicult to remove and after they have once been removed, it is very hard to replace them, with the result that milk bottles are often left uncovered while standin in the refrigerator. Milk has the property of absorbing flavors from other foods and it is therefore quite necessary to keep the bottle sealed while it is in the refrigerator and this is doubly desirable if the bottle is kept outside.

This invention, as above pointed out, relates to a simple attachment that can be readily applied to a milk bottle for eifecting a closure thereof.

The invention consists of a metal frame comprising two parts, one of the parts is provided with two curved arms l3, that are interconnected by a U-shaped loop comprising upwardly extending portions l4, connected at their tops by a transverse portion l5 which serves as a pivot for the cover carrying lever which will now be described.

The lever has been shown as formed from steel wire and is bent double from the point designated by reference numeral l6. Intermediate its ends the two wires are curved around the transverse pivot 15, forming bearing loops like those designated by reference numeral IT. The ends 18 then project forwardly in spaced parallel relation. The handle l6a is preferably curved and downwardly inclined in the manner shown in Figure 1. The closure proper consists of a disk l9, which may be made from suitable vulcanized rubber composition, and is of a size to fit the milk bottle rabbet I2. It may be stated here that although milk bottles of this type may vary as to capacity from half a pint to half a gallon or more, the neck i". so formed that the standard pasteboard closure will fit all sizes, the closure disk therefore, is merely cut to the size of the ordinary pasteboard disk. In order to efiect a ready attachment of the closure disk [9 with the ends l8, it is provided on its upper surf-ace with a projection 20 which has been shown as of rectangular shape, but which may be round, if desired. This projection is provided with two holes 2| for the reception of ends H3, in the manner shown quite clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Since the closure disk I!) is connected with the ends I 8 in such a manner that it can be adjusted longitudinally, it becomes possible to efiect such small 3 adjustments as are found to be necessary in changing from one type of bottle to another. It has already been pointed out that, although the bottles may vary somewhat in size and thickness of material, the diameter of the rabbet l2 remains the same. However, due to the difierent thicknesses of the part designated by reference numeral l I, and due to difl'erences in diameter of the neck portion, it becomes necessary to adjust theclosure #9 when changing from; one size, of bottle to another, and this can be readily done with the construction that has just been described, and which is therefore considered to be an important feature. Arms l3 are of such; length that they extend a substantial distance beyond the diametrical plane to which they are perpendicular and therefore serve tohold the attachment in place. however, be readily removed by merely exerting a. force tending to move it relative to the bottle in the direction of the handle [6a.

Attention is, called to the position and shape of the handle which has been shown in Figure 1-. The position of the handle is such that when the bottle is grasped for the purpose of pouring mill: therefrom, the handle is moved inwardly towards: the dotted line and, opens the, cover so as-to permit a freedischarge of the bottle contents.

In, Figure 5 a cross, section of one form of closure has been shown. From this figure it will be seen thatthe disk 19 may be cut from, a sheet and ,rmovidedwith a concentric opening 22. Projection 20 may be provided with a cylindrical extension. or' plug 23 that is of the proper size to fit the.- opening 22. By assembling the two parts into the shape shown in Figure 5 and prov-idingy'ru-bber cement between the surfaces the two parts will form a substantially integral assembly. Of course it is immaterial so far as this invention is concerned how the closure is made. However, it is considered to be a matter of importance that the closure shall have on its upper surface a projection of suificient thickness to permi-t the ends M to be inserted into holes 2|.

The closure assembly that has just been de- 45 scribed is of a simple construction and of such The whole attachment can,

4 material that the parts may be readily sterilized by immersing. them in boiling water and can therefore be readily maintained in sanitary condition.

Due to the weight of the closure, disk l9 and the end portions l8, the cover will automatically assume a closed position when at rest and this obviates the necessity of providing springs for moving it to and holding it in closed position. When the diameter of the closure disk I! has been properly selected, a slight downward push exerted on the disk will cause it to snap into the rabbet and it will be held in closed position by the friction thus provided.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new A milk bottle closure comprising, a spring jaw adapted to be placed on and removed from the neck of'a milk bottle by a transverse movement, the jaw having the central portion thereof formed into an upwardly extending loop whose top is substantially straight, forming a pivot, a closure operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the top of the loop, the lever comprising two angularly related arms; one of which normally extends over the bottle forming a closure support, a closure disk secured tothe last mentioned arm, the other arminclining downwardly in spaced angular position with respect to the .outer surface of a bottle when the closure is in place, forming a handle, means for securing the closure to the arm that extends over the bottle,

comprising means permitting the closure to be adjusted along the arm to compensate for variations in bottle design.

FRANK M. ALEXANDER- REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

